Chilean jack mackerel

The stocks of Chilean jack mackerel in the Chilean Exclusive Economic Zone and the international waters of the Southeast Pacific are in good condition. The stocks are well above the level for maximum sustainable yield and current fishing pressure is low enough to keep the stocks healthy. There is still some uncertainty about the exact population structure of the species.

Fishing with purse seines has little bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species. Discards are limited, although additional mortality may occur because catches are sometimes released again before being brought on board. The catch consists largely of Chilean jack mackerel, but Atlantic mackerel is also caught as bycatch locally. Purse seines do not damage the seabed and the impact on the ecosystem, CO₂ emissions and the risk of ghost fishing are low.

Management is considered largely effective. Chile follows the management measures of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), although regional catch limits have been exceeded in recent years. Within Chile, catches generally remain within the agreed quotas and the stocks are regularly monitored.

Fisheries for Chilean jack mackerel have been MSC-certified since 2019. Because jack mackerel swim in large schools, fisheries can catch them relatively selectively without significant bycatch. Chilean jack mackerel is currently the only mackerel species with MSC certification and therefore provides a good alternative to Atlantic mackerel from the Northeast Atlantic. This stock has been under pressure for a long time due to poor management. MSC-certified Chilean jack mackerel is caught using pelagic trawls and purse seines.